Changeist applications for the 2024-25 program are open!
Changeist is a Saturday program that brings together middle and high school students to foster friendships, learn more about our world, and take action to support our community! On Saturdays between December and June, Changeists will:
Explore social issues, serve your community, and reflect on solutions to issues that matter to you
Learn and practice change-making and leadership skills (public speaking, mobilization, conflict resolution, and team leadership)
Be exposed to different groups, perspectives, cultures, and ideas
Complete 100+ service hours and engage with other youth
across LA County! (qualifies for most school requirements)Earn a Presidential Volunteer Service Award (upon completion of the program)
A group of high school students sought out to depict the Changeist experience to their peers through this short film.
Here's their take.
What former Changeists have said…
“Changeist is not your typical Saturday civic engagement club. Showing up every Saturday morning to see charismatic, intelligent youth makes waking up from bed worthwhile. You meet people your age. Our generation has so many fresh ideas and positive energy to put into the world, and we only strengthen our voices by coming together. Being here at Changeist taught me what change is: a noble effort to strive not only for equality but simply a better future."
“It’s interesting to see people with different backgrounds, like some who are well-off and some who are not and it’s interesting to see how everyone has a different thing going on and yet we still come together for a common cause.”
“After knowing what I learned, there’s no coming back from it and that’s actually changed me a lot.”
Interview with former Changeists
What issues will you explore at Changeist? You decide! We update our program every year to focus on new, cohort-suggested issues.
Our values are part of what makes our community so special.
Young people are whole people.
Young people are not the future, they are leaders today. Youth inherently have value -- they do not need to be changed or fixed. Our organization uplifts the needs, voices, and humanity of young people and we follow their lead.
Relationships are our superpower.
While every individual is powerful, we are strongest together, and community is our first tool for changing the world. When we use our assets to help others, we improve the wellbeing of our community and take care of ourselves.
Systems are the problem, not people.
If a plant doesn’t grow we don’t blame the plant, but the environmental conditions that don’t allow it to thrive. Similarly, we believe that societal injustice -- not broken people -- is responsible for the challenges impacting our communities.
Learning happens on our own terms.
Everyone has a right to self-determination. We are here to help one another grow in the ways we decide for ourselves. We build a supportive and joyful environment to share skills and insights.
We hold space for dialogue.
As a youth convening organization, we embrace dialogue to break down stereotypes, biases, and assumptions to facilitate communal learning. We listen openly, we are willing to question our own perspectives, and we respectfully challenge ideas and voice disagreement. We aim to bridge divides, which will help us become greater civic leaders.
Being human is messy.
We have all been socialized into harmful ideologies and practices. We have all been hurt and caused hurt. As we build community, we will make mistakes and fail along the way. We meet each others’ imperfections with gentleness and compassion, and strive for understanding as we serve together.